Title: A Perfect, and Somewhat Dysfunctional, Family

By: bokayjunkie

Summary: Luke and Rory has always had a special father/daughter bond that no one can break. But what happens when someone comes along to ruin that bond. Set in Season 1. Luke and Lorelai are not together…YET. A little RD also.

Disclaimer: lalalalalalalalala

A/N: Aaaawwww!!!!!!! Thank you for those wonderful reviews.

CHAPTER 12: And a Happy Birthday to you Lucas

"Lucas! Rory! Lorelai!" came Mazy's greet as the trio entered. She immediately wrapped her arms around Luke into a huge hug. Then to Rory and Lorelai.

Buddy and Mazy set up their table with balloons and a small sign on the center of the table that says 'Happy Birthday Lucas' on it. Which, didn't please Luke much. But let it slide, considering this was a family gathering. And, Mazy would put up a fight and in the end she would win.

Now that it was already Luke's birthday party at Sniffy's, Lorelai couldn't help but be sad. Cause she knew that Luke would be mean and make her eat vegetables the whole night. Even though the vegetables that Buddy made were really good, they still were vegetables.

Lorelai pouted the whole night as everybody ordered. She didn't, cause Luke would order for her on this day. That was her gift to him. Lorelai didn't even try to listen to him when he ordered for her. But when the food came, she was surprised to see stake on her plate.

She looked at Luke with confusion in her eyes. "Wha…"

"Even though, you'd be pretty bloated right now with all that crap you ate last nigh," he started, "and I shouldn't be giving you anything like this to eat right now, but I don't want you pouting the whole night."

Lorelai smiled warmly at him and ate her food with much delight. As Lorelai ate, she kept on looking over towards Luke and Rory. Rory was talking to Luke non stop about school, Lane, Dean, everything. At moments like these, Lorelai couldn't help but let her mind wander. Luke was so much part of their lives. He's already her baby's daddy. He's been Rory's daddy since they've met.

Every now and then, Lorelai would always imagine what her life would be like if she and Luke were married. It probably would still be the same. Except they'd be living together, and they definitely would be sleeping together. And yes, those are bad thoughts that she's going in to. But, being around Luke 24/7 does this to her. Specially after those engagement and baby rumors. If Luke were to propose to me, I wonder if he'd do it on a Gondola while we're in Italy?

That would be romantic though. Sometimes, even, she would wish that Luke really was Rory's father. At one point, she even tried to made up some possibility that he was. Maybe he had gone to the same party she had gone to in Hartford. And she was drunk, he was too, and they had sex, but was too drunk and hungover to even remember each toher's names. She even asked Luke if he even went to a party to Hartford, but he didn't. of course he'd never be exposed to any of those. The only killer party he's been to was Rory's 8th birthday party where they arrested the clown.

She laughed inwardly at the memory. Lorelai looked over at Rory and Luke again. They did look alike. People always say that they did. every time the three went out, strangers thought that they were a cute little family. They even had family portraits. It was weird though. How Rory looked so much like Luke.

Lorelai had though about getting together with Luke. every time someone asks if they were dating or married, she'd wanted to say yes. At first she blushed, they had started those assumptions just months after they had first met. She must admit, she had been a bit attracted to him when they had first met.

Then they became friends and they were taking her and Rory under his and William's wing. She still had a crush on him. Then Rachel came back, she stopped hoping and dreaming that they would ever get together. But when Rachel left, she had saw hope, but she saw how devastated Luke was and she thought that he didn't feel that way about her. Cause he still loved Rachel. So why waste her time?

But now, it's been years since Rachel left. She had had a few callers now and then. Guys asking her out. She went with some. But she'd mostly decline. She'd also see a lot of random women who came into the diner and drool all over Luke. But he never paid any attention to them. But the longer she waited for something to happen between them, the more she was convinced that he wasn't interested.

And the fact that if they would get together, and something might happen, then it could be bad. Really bad. Not just for them, but for Rory as well. With every passing second, Rory and Luke gets closer and closer. And if something were to happen to their friendship, then it will affect Rory badly. So she decided to not act up on it.

Moments later, Buddy and Mazy came out holding a cake singing happy birthday. Luke groaned at them and kept on scowling up until they said make a wish. Luke looked at Rory and nodded his head towards the cake. Rory smiled. She held his hand and the two took a moment before they blew out the candles together. Lorelai loved it when he does that. Always including Rory in on everything.

Luke cut a piece of cake for Rory and surprisingly a piece for him. Lorelai looked at him in disbelief.

"You actually think I'm gonna eat this?" he asked chuckling a bit.

"Well you cut it for yourself." she said back.

Luke took the fork and started to feed Lorelai with cake. Lorelai smiled. If this is as close as I can get to being with him, then so be it. Luke kept on feeding Lorelai, much to her delight. He even decided to be cute and dab some frosting on her face. She took revenge by dabbing frosting on his as well. Then it became a frosting fight between the two.

Rory looked at them with much awe and adoration.

"They together yet?" Mazy whispered into her ear.

Rory shook her head sadly.

Luke parked the truck behind Lorelai's jeep on the driveway. They had took Luke's truck to the restaurant. Rory was seated in the middle, who was still on her sugar high. She and Lorelai were singing and dancing in their seats to Bono. Luke turned off the engine but the girls still sang and danced as they got off the truck.

Rory took the presents from the back and Lorelai and Luke covered the leftovers and they headed into the house. Rory packed Luke's presents in the hall closet, which is filled with his stuff anyways. Luke mostly kept his stuff at the Gilmore house because he's always there.

Rory said that she's gonna go freshen up. Leaving Luke and Lorelai alone in the living room.

"Did you like your 34th birthday party?" Lorelai asked. They were seated on the couch, with distance between them.

"It was good." he smiled. "I'm glad I could spend it with you and Rory."

Lorelai blushed. "Oh hey, I have a present for you." she said suddenly, getting up and going to the hallway desk.

"I thought my present was you eating whatever I tell you to eat?" he asked.

"Yeah. It is." she said, pulling out a small gift, wrapped in baseball wrapping paper, then sat back down on the couch, this time closer to Luke. She propped her legs under her butt, her knees bumping against Luke's. "I just saw this and thought that you might need it." she shrugged.

Luke smiled and opened the present. He opened the box and inside was a leather black Ralph Lauren wallet. "Thanks." he said sincerely.

"Now I know it's not as grand as eating vegetables." Lorelai said shyly. "But, I saw that your wallet was a little worn out. So I thought I'd save you the trip and buy you a new one."

"I like it." he said. He pulled out his wallet from his pocket. He opened it and took out his money and the picture of him, Lorelai and Rory years back, and a picture of his dad and put it on the new wallet.

Lorelai smiled seeing the pictures. One thing she noticed whenever he saw what was inside his wallet, was the pictures he had in there. Luke really wasn't the kind of man who kept pictures. Yet, he kept picture of her, and Rory and Will.

Lorelai looked up at him, only to find him looking back at her. Their eyes met. Their gaze locked. Both looking at each other with intensity. She smiled slightly, he smiled back. Subconsciously they leaned slowly towards each other. Their lips were getting close by the second. She closed her eyes. She could feel his breath against her lips. They were inches away from each other. Then...

"Mom!" Rory yelled from her room. Lorelai jumped back, huddled herself at the other end of the couch, far away from Luke. Rory came out from the bathroom in her PJ's and robe. "Where'd you put my tooth paste?"

Luke stayed with the girls that night. They set up the living room again with pillows and blankets. Rory had kept Luke up, reading her book out loud to him. Lorelai kept her back tot hem, pretending to sleep and trying to forget about what had just happened. Or what didn't for that matter.

The next day, Luke had gotten up early again and cooked for the girls. Lorelai woke up as well but stayed laying down, pretending to be asleep. Luke woke up the girls before he left the house. Rory protested his leaving, thinking that he was gonna be eating with them. But he told her that he really had to go to the diner. Though truth was, he didn't want to be at close proximity with Lorelai just yet. Rory let it go knowing she was gonna go see him again soon. Lorelai didn't say anything.

She didn't know why she was acting this way. This wasn't the first time something like this happened. They have had moments before where they almost kissed. And they always got through it. So, Lorelai acted on as if nothing had happened. And Luke did too. Though sometimes, Lorelai always dreamt of what would happen if Rory hadn't interrupted them.

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A/N: Dialogue and scene copied from episode 1.08 (Love, War, and Snow)

-I hate myself.

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It wasn't far long until winter came. It was already November and by the weather forecast, they were expecting snow. Not only was this the most anticipated time of the year for Lorelai, but it was also the time for the re-enactment.

Lorelai, being late again, walked in to Miss Patty's, carrying a bag of food and sat next to Rory who was seated at the back.

"What'd I miss?" she whispered into her daughter's ear.

"Taylor Doose wants the no-parking zone in front of his store removed." she whispered back. "He says his customers are being unfairly ticketed."

"No, it's just because he wants to park there all day."

"Genius."

"I have been mayor of this fine town for a long time." said Mayor Harry, as he spoke on the podium. "I tend to think of all of you as my children. Unfortunately, sometimes children have to be disciplined. Now I'm going to say something and I'm only gonna say it once. . .we have leash laws, people."

"Daddy's getting angry." Lorelai said quietly to Rory, smirking.

"Rover will not leash himself." the Mayor went on.

"Hm, good point." Rory said.

"I would like to now move on to something of even greater importance." he went. "As you all know, this coming Friday is the anniversary of the legendary Battle of Stars Hollow."

Now we're getting somewhere. "Where's Luke?" Lorelai asked searching the room for him.

"Up there." Rory pointed to the second row, where you can see the back of Luke's head.

The Mayor continued to speak. "Penny will be circulating a sign up sheet for those of you who would like to participate in the reenactment of foresaid battle."

"He's turning red." Rory said eagerly to her mother.

Lorelai squeaked. "Oh, oh."

"All right. It was a frigid November night, some 224 years ago."

"He's shifting in his seat" Lorelai said.

"The brave Stars Hollow militia stood in wait for the Red Coats."

"He's adjusting the cap." Rory said.

"Ooh!" now this was getting really good.

"Tired and hungry, twelve proud men took their positions in the town's square, braving the elements. . ."

Lorelai's eyes widen. "He's fighting the urge, he's fighting the urge."

". . .and imminent death in their valiant efforts. . ."

all of a sudden Luke stood from his seat and exploded. "Oh, for God's Sake, do we have to go through this every damn year!"

"Yes!" Lorelai squealed.

"And the urge wins by a long shot!" Rory cheered.

"I thought we were here to discuss town issues." he yelled.

"This is a town issue." Taylor argued.

"Excuse me, who's talking?" Harry asked, looking around the room.

Luke sighed. "It's me, Harry, Luke. You've known me since I was 5 years old."

in realization, "Oh, Luke, yes. Sit down. Now as I was saying, twelve heroic men assembled with guns drawn ready to meet their maker."

"What are you talking about?" Luke blew. "Twelve guys stood in a row all night-"

"Waiting for the Red Coats." Harry said.

"Who never showed!" Luke argued.

"Now just a minute!"

"Twelve guys stood in a row all night waiting for an enemy that never showed. They got stood up. They should've been wearing prom dresses."

Taylor stood up in appalled. "I've had just about enough of this."

"Sit down, Taylor." Luke barked.

"Menace." non the less he sat back down.

"Suck up."

"Five bucks says somebody ends up in a headlock." Lorelai whispered to Rory.

"You're on!" she says.

"Have any of you ever considered the fact that you're glorifying a war we fought so we could keep land that we stole?" Luke continued.

"If you don't like it here in America, why don't you go stand in line for toilet paper in the USSR!" Mayor Harry said.

"There is no more USSR, Harry."

"A sense of community is so important, isn't it?" Lorelai commented.

"It's what made our country great." Rory smirked.

Lorelai rolled over to her side. She took a deep breath and smiled. She opened her eyes and looked out the window. It was snowing. She immediately sat up on her bed causing the lump next to her to stir.

"Sorry." she giggled. She looked over at him, he was on his back, one arm behind his head, the other on his abdomen. She was wearing his flannel and he was wearing his sweatshirt.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his eyes still closed.

"Well honey, if you would open your eyes you could see why I'm awake."

Luke was quiet a moment. "Is this gonna be like last weekend where you woke me up for a fashion show?" remembering her improptu fashion show of the things she bout at Victoria's Secret. his brow raised, yet his eyes were still close.

Lorelai rolled her eyes but smiled. "Well there's only one way to find out." she said seductively.

Luke smirked knowing full well what it was. "I think I'd rather not." Lorelai pouted. "Don't pout."

"Wow. Five years of marriage and you're already tired of my body."

Luke chuckled and finally opened his eyes. "Come here." he said in that low, gruff, sexy voice that always turns her on. She laid back down, rested her head on his chest. He kissed her passionately, letting his lips linger against hers for a while. His hands wander all over her body, touching her on all his, and hers, favorite places which made her moan uncontrollably. "You are always sexy as hell. And I will never get tired of you."

"Good answer mister." she mumbled against his lips, breathing heavily. She gave him another kiss and another one. And another long, passionate kiss.

Then the door opened and a three year old little girl, with dark curly hair, and piercing blue eyes, came bouncing in their bedroom.

"Rory!" Lorelai exclaimed, picking her daughter up from the floor. "What are you doing here?"

Rory settled herself between Luke and Lorelai and snuggled to them. "I smelled snow!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"That's my girl." Lorelai said proudly.

Rory giggled. Then turned to Luke. "Daddy did you smell snow?" she asked excitedly.

"Aw, hun, daddy doesn't have the nose." Lorelai told her. "Only we Danes girls have it." Rory giggled as she sank in with her mommy and daddy. The three of them looked out at the window as snow fell hard and fast.

Lorelai jolted up from her sleep. She looked around the room. No Luke. No Rory. No snow. It was all a dream. She groaned and sank back down on her bed. She rubbed her face with her hands. She's been having those dreams again. Those really warm, and heartfelt dreams about Luke. They were really nice. She would be married to Luke and Rory was still a little girl. And not only that, but she was their little girl. Hers and Luke's.

She usually have these dreams whenever snow was near or around. These dreams become really strong around snow. These family dreams. Where her and Rory were Danes girls and Luke was the Danes man. Otherwise, they would be those really naughty dream that gets her really excited. And aching for him.

She looked out the window. No snow, but her nose tells her otherwise. She got up from bed and put on her robe. She walked quietly downstairs. She turns on the light and went out towards the window. She opened it and inhaled. She smiled. She smells snow. She walked back towards the couch, but stopped when she saw the answering machine was blinking. She pressed play and her smile faded.

"Lorelai, it's Max…"

A/N: Please don't be mad. Please don't be mad. It's gonna be good...I promise...please don't be mad.

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REVIEWS!-yes, please leave a review. I'd just love to know what you think of this chapter/story. And any SUGGESTIONS, IDEAS, and/or, REQUESTS you'd like see, please do tell.
♠bokayjunkie♣